Why We Don’t Ask for More Time on Deadlines (But Probably Should)

While it’s common to believe that pushing back a deadline might reflect poorly on us and be seen as unprofessional, we know relatively little from research about the actual consequences of asking for more time. Researchers conducted 10 experiments and 1 survey with nearly 10,000 employees and managers in the U.S. We found that, across occupations, asking for more time to work on an assignment was, on average, perceived positively by managers – and it reduced employees’ stress levels and improved their performance. However, employees rarely ask for an extension, even when deadlines are clearly adjustable (e.g., their manager had explicitly said, “If you need more time, just ask”). Employees – especially female employees – worried that by asking for a deadline extension, their managers would think they were incompetent and unmotivated. But in contrast to employees’ predictions, managers judged both male and female employees who asked for an extension as more motivated than those who did not.